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Updated: May 15, 2026

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
Published on: November 2, 2012
Words as windows to thought: The case of object representation
David Barner1, Peggy Li, Jesse Snedeker
1Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego.
Abstract:
Languages differ in how they express thought, leading some researchers to conclude that speakers of different languages perceive objects differently. Others, in contrast, argue that words are windows to thought - reflecting its structure without modifying it. Here, we explore the case study of object representation. Studies of Japanese, Chinese, and English indicate that speakers of these languages do not perceive objects differently, despite their grammatical differences. Syntax provides frames for words that can select among meanings without affecting underlying object perception.
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